Tarik Skubal Sweeps AL Cy Young; First Back-to-Back Winner Since 1999

UPDATE: In an electrifying announcement, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has clinched his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award as of Wednesday, confirming his status as one of the top pitchers in baseball. This monumental win makes Skubal the first pitcher to achieve back-to-back Cy Young accolades since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000.

Skubal dominated the voting held by the Baseball Writers Association of America, outperforming Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox and Hunter Brown from the Houston Astros. With a remarkable season record of 13-6 and a stunning 2.21 ERA, he led the league in several key pitching metrics, including 241 strikeouts over 195⅓ innings.

This year, Skubal’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. He topped the AL in both Baseball-Reference WAR (6.5) and FanGraphs WAR (6.6), while also leading in strikeout rate at 32.2% and boasting the lowest walk rate at 4.4%. His fastball, averaging nearly 98 mph, combined with one of the league’s best changeups, helped him secure the most scoreless starts of six innings or more in Tigers history.

“I think a lot of it came after I got hurt and rehabbed in ’23,”

said Skubal in an interview with MLB Network.

“There’s kind of a little bit of a blessing in disguise in getting hurt in that aspect.”

Skubal’s season included an impressive tally of double-digit strikeouts in 10 games and a standout performance on May 25, when he pitched a two-hit shutout against the Cleveland Guardians, striking out 13 batters and achieving a game score of 96, the highest in the AL for 2025.

Despite his individual success, Skubal’s postseason journey ended in disappointment once again. He started Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, where he pitched six innings with one run and 13 strikeouts, but the Tigers ultimately lost 3-2 in a grueling 15-inning match.

With just one season remaining before reaching free agency, speculation is rife regarding Skubal’s future with the Tigers. His agent, Scott Boras, is known for rarely allowing clients to sign extensions close to free agency, prompting potential trade discussions if an extension cannot be reached.

Skubal joins an elite group of Tigers pitchers, becoming one of only five to win the Cy Young Award, alongside legends like Denny McLain and Justin Verlander.

This achievement not only marks a personal triumph for Skubal but also underscores the unpredictable journey within the sport, proving that success can rise from unexpected circumstances.

As fans celebrate this historic win, all eyes will be on Skubal’s next steps as he navigates the whirlwind of postseason negotiations and prepares for the upcoming season.